Some of you are also heading to Helsinki to watch the regular season-opening games the Blackhawks on Oct. 2 and 3.

Anyhow, the trip overseas is approaching quickly, and with just 40 days left until the team’s chartered plane takes off for Finland, I’d like to start a fun, daily feature to accompany the countdown.

Each day from now until Sept. 25, I’m going to put up on my blog a fun and/or informational fact about Finland. It’ll help pass the time until then and maybe even offer some tour tips for those planning on going.

So here we go: 40 days until Finland…

***If you’re talking Finland, one of the first places you have to start is saunas. They’re a substantial part of Finnish culture.

The nation is famous for the smoke-fired sauna experience – year-round – complete with a full-body scrub. Yep, nudity is the norm in a Finnish sauna, as is the experience whipping oneself with a softened birch branch.

The Finns believe you can wash your soul from sins in a sauna, which are typically heated to between 140 and 210 degrees Farenheit.

How popular are saunas? For a nation whose population is a little more than 5 million, there are an estimated 2-plus million saunas. A Finnish church in London has its own sauna.

There is even the annual Sauna World Championships, which has been held in Heinola, Finland

the past decade and earlier this month drew more than 150 competitors from more than 20 countries.

Comments (75 Comments)

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

Yes, and if the queen had a dick, she’d be the king…
BTW,
Faced the Thrashers in the 1st round? 1st round of what?
Another intelligent hockey post by a perfect Alan Cohen customer…
Keep buying those Panther tix, maybe this year you’ll catch a free t-shirt…
———————————————————————————
One could argue that the Panthers have a good enough team as it is, and I would agree. They could’ve made the playoffs with the team they’ve got right now if they would’ve won half the games they lost in OT, and they lost 16. Eight points may not seem like that much…but for the Panthers, it was the difference between facing the Thrashers in the first round and packing it up for the summer.
Posted by: online gambling

HARVEY FIALKOV, a tennis-playing sportswriter who grew up in Long Island following the dynastic Islanders, is the new Panthers beat writer for the Sun Sentinel and looking forward to writing about the best professional sports team in Broward County.